| Next Match | ||
| v | Academica |
| May 31st, 3:00 PM Southside Park | ||
| Previous Match | ||
| v | Aguias |
| W 3 - 0 | ||
 |
||
RSJ Defeats Sporting 4 - 2 to Remain in FirstPatrick Nelle recorded his second brace in as many weeks to defeat a Sporting side desperate to find the top half of the CCSL Premier League table. Real began the game with the veteran back line of Madu, Mercado, Hamilton, and Simmons. The midfield consisted of teenagers Gaschen, Okugo, Akinsanya and veteran Delgado. Nelle and Frazelle assumed the goal scoring duties up top. From the opening whistle, the speed of Nelle presented a match up problem for the Sporting defense. After a brilliant penetrating ball played by Okugo found Nelle on the deep left side of the Sporting defense, Nelle swiftly beat the Sporting defenders and scored the first goal in the sixth minute of the game. The slick wet Southside pitch seemed troublesome for both defenses. The second goal of the match came due to some good fortune for Real. After a Real shot bounced off the Sporting post, the referee whistled Sporting for a "back pass" to the Sporting 'keeper. Real was given an indirect free kick inside the Sporting box. With the entire Sporting team in the goal, the initial shot was blocked only to have Marcos Mercado opportunistically place the ball over the Sporting 'keeper's head and into the Sporting net. Not to be outdone, Nelle scored his second goal before the end of the half. Newly signed Josh Brown found Nelle deep in the Sporting defense and Nelle calmly scored to increase the Real lead to 3 - 0.Throughout the history of Real/Sporting matches, many three-goal leads have disappeared. Sporting's offense has rarely been held to a clean sheet. Real began the second half with defense in mind. However, within the first ten minutes of the second half, Sporting scored to cut the lead to 2. Play opened up as Sporting aspired to draw closer and Real looked for another goal to make the outcome definitive. Real's fourth goal came when Ade Akinsanya out jumped the Sporting 'keeper for a Ralph Cazel cross. With the score now 4 - 1, Sporting refused to quit and scored another goal to make it 4 - 2. As the rain continued to soak the Southside field, both teams traded quality goal scoring chances with both 'keepers coming up big. In the end, Real defeated Sporting 4 - 2. Up next is Cruz Azul, who is seeking to get back on the winning track after a 3 - 0 loss at Academica last week. Man of the Match: Patrick Nelle Starting lineup: Simmons, Mercado, Hamilton, Madu - Gaschen, Okugo, Delgado, Akinsanya - Nelle, Frazelle Substitutes: Ricks-Chambers, Cazel, Brown |
||
 |
||
